In the beginning God said “Let there be light – and there was light”. This is not the light that we associate with daylight from the sun as the sun would only be created on day 4 of creation. This light is different. This is the light of God’s presence to bring order out of chaos. Before God spoke those famous first words we hear in Genesis One – the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep. Likewise, without God in our lives we too can feel formless, empty and dark. This light is very different to the light that we experience during the daytime. It is the light or brightness that Peter, James and John experience today in what is known as The Transfiguration.
In this account Mark says that Jesus was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. As in Genesis One, this is God’s Glory that is hidden beneath the human flesh of Jesus which is Jesus’ way of assuring the disciples that regardless of what is about to happen that God is still in control and his Majesty is supreme.
And, as we know, they are going to need all the help they can get in the coming days as Jesus continues his journey to Jerusalem, where, as he has previously revealed to them – he will be handed over to the authorities and put to death. But Jesus always concluded that prophesy with ‘and on the 3rd day rise again’. And that’s the hidden glory that Jesus wants them to understand – that his death will not be the end.
For whatever reason it’s not yet time to have this fully revealed as Jesus says to them – Tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Because at this point people’s understanding of death was that it was the final stage in a person’s life.
That’s why Jesus rejects Peter’s request to remain in that glory now: the task in not yet complete until Jesus dies and rises from death to defeat, sin, death and the devil. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
There is a time when the glory will be fully revealed but until then we have to trust in God’s timing and not lose heart. As the voice from the cloud says to them, and to us: This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!
And that’s also what St Paul says to us in Colossians chapter 3: Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. That will be our Transfiguration to eternal glory. The same glory Peter, James and John had a brief glimpse of today.
So this is what the transfiguration means to us. It is easy to become disheartened in our faith and in our outlook in the world. There is so much to suggest that God is not in control or that God doesn’t even exist. That’s the verdict so many have come to which is what Paul speaks about regarding the god of this world who has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.
It would have been easy for the disciples to come to that conclusion at Jesus arrest and is death. In fact, some did. Judas was lured with financial payment to give up Jesus. When Jesus was arrested they all fled. When Peter was confronted he denied knowing Jesus 3 times.
After his death they locked themselves away fearing for their lives. When Jesus appeared to the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus there is voice of despondency: “we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. We had hoped. Maybe you had hoped also. Maybe there have been times you had hoped for more from God as you look at the state of the world or perhaps even your own life. That’s why Paul says – focus on heavenly things not earthly things.
That’s why God said to Peter, James and John – this is my Son whom I love – listen to him. When many disciples turned away from Jesus because his teaching was too hard he asked his 12 disciples – do you want to turn away too? Peter responds – Lord, to whom shall we go – YOU have the words of eternal life. That’s why God said – listen to him – Jesus has the words of eternal life.
The darkness can be quite intense as it was at the beginning of creation when chaos reigned supreme – which is what it seems like now. But Paul reminds us in today’s reading: For it is God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. And John’s Gospel talks about that light of glory in the opening of his Gospel – which is John’s retelling of the new creation by that same word that said “let there be light:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
We are about to begin our Lenten journey for this year on Wednesday with Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday reminds us of our mortality – ashes to ashes dust to dust – as God told Adam because of our disobedience: By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
The Transfiguration is a miracle, a revelation of Christ’s glory. It is a glimpse behind the veil between heaven and earth that is currently hidden. As much as Peter wanted to stay in that amazing experience it no sooner ends and they find themselves walking back down the mountain. Away from the glory and back to their daily life. But what is significant is that Jesus is walking with them. He doesn’t send them down alone and neither does Jesus allow us to experience the darkness of the world alone.
Soon we are going to experience a glimpse of Jesus glory as we receive his Body and Blood in Holy Communion to prepare us to go back to our daily life and give us hope and to be God’s presence to those with a veiled hope. Let your light shine so others may see your good works and give glory to God. Just as the Transfiguration affirms Jesus’ baptism – this is my Son whom I love – so too it reminds us of our own Baptism where Jesus promised – I am with you always till the end of the age.
